Control-valve for friction-clutch thrust-cylinders.



I w. FERRIS. CONTROL VALVE FOR FRICTION CLUTCH THBUST CYLINDERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY II. I917- Patented Jan. 7,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I- Invenifi. 77 62567" R7725 w. FERRIS.

CONTROL VALVE. FOR FRICTION CLUTCH THRUST CYLINDERS.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 1!. I917. 1,290,150,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- In v'enzm" I Patented J an. 7, 1919.

Patented Jan. 7,1919. kn 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 [RY/670507- 773K162?" J'Zrrzjs' I w. FERRIS. CONTROL VALVE FOR FRICTION CLUTCH THRUST CYLINDERS.

APPLICATIQN FILED IULY HI I917- w. FERRIS. CONTROL VALVE FOR FRICTION CLUTCH THRUST CYLINDERS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1!. 1917- I I V Patented Jan. 7,1919.

4 sums-SHEET 4.

WALTER rnnnrs, or souTn fliinwaunnnpwusoonsm, assren'on To BUcYaus'coM- PANY', or SOUTH MILWAUKnE, WISCONSIN, A oonronarron or WISCONSIN.

CONTROL-VALVE ron'fnnttrron-onumn THRUST-CYLINDERS.

' To all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER Fnimis, a citizen of the" United States, residing at South Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Control Valves for Friction-Clutch Thrust- Oylinders, of whichthe following is a specification.

One object of this invention is to enable the operator of a friction clutch engaged by fluid pressure to control the force applied to operate said clutch, in such a manner that a given position of the operating lever will cause a certain definite force to act upon friction members, said definite force not being affected by the amount of wear or by inexact adjustment in the friction members or by the temperature of the parts.

Another object of said invention is to provide a pressure reducing valve whereby fluid operating pressure may be admitted to a thrust cylinder without exerting any unbalanced force upon the stem of the oper ating valve.

Another object of saidinvention is toenable a controlled variable pressure to be transmitted from a source-of pressure on the stationary platform of a machine to a clutch thrusting cylinder mounted uponv one of the revolving parts.

Another object of said invention is to provide a. device whereby a friction clutch with revolving thrust cylinder; may be operated' at full capacity or partial capacity, and used either as a hoistlngclutch or as a lowering brake at the will 0f the operator.

The accompanying drawings 'show this:

invention'carried out withrespect to the operation; of a famillar type of friction clutch, ordi narily used inconnection with steam shovels and dredges. It is equally applicable, however,-to any type of friction c utch operated by means of fluid under pressure. r r i In theusual application of such clutches they are controlled by a three-way steam or air valve by .m.eans of which the full available fluid pressure is admitted behind the piston 12 when the operator opens the Y valve to engage thefclutch; and the pressure is entirelyreleased, completely'dlsen- SpecifieationbfIetters Patent.

gaging the clutch, when the operator closes the Valve against the admission of fluid pressure to the cylinder and opens the x- Patented Jan. 7, 119119.. Application flledj'uly 11,1917. Serial No. 179,890.

haust between the cylinder and the outer air. Slight modifications of this operation are possible .by careful manipulation and partlal opening of the ports in the valve ordinarily used, but-as a matter of practice such a control valve is only capable of operating the friction clutch in the manner above described, so that the clutch is either fully engaged or fully released, but cannot be held t partial engagement so that it will sl1p more or less easily as may be desired by the operator.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a friction clutch gear and winding drum,.operated by fluid pressure. n

Fig. 2 is a partial axial section through winding drum with gear and clutch parts and control valve and associated parts in elevation Like parts are indicated by the same numeral in all the figures. v

3 is a gear wheel driven by any source of power not shown, keyed to shaft 4 and carrying by means of pins on its peri hery a. friction band 5. One end of thisfriction band is anchored upon a pin 6 fixed in the periphery of the gear while the other end is attached by means of an adjustable rod 7 to a lever 8 which is keyed to the inner end of a shaft 10, which passes'through a hole in the gear rim and has'keyed to its outer end a lever 11. This lever 11 is moved by means of fluid pressure behinda piston 12 means of piston rod and connection plalnly shown in the drawing; -When the pressure is relieved behind this iston 12 the lever is moved to the right y means of sprmg 13, whichis compressed during the movement of the lever by the piston. Operating connectionsbetween thi spring and the lever are also plainly shown.

.is tightened, (by means of the levers 8 and 11 and the shaft upon a friction surface 9 formed on a flange of the winding drum 90. Thereby, as the gear revolves, the drum is compelled to revolve with it, winding up the rope. Of course the winding drum is only one application, and any other appropriate device may be driven by such a clutch.

The construction of the improved control valve. which forms the basis of the present application is shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4: and 5. In Fig. 2, 14 designates a pipe which is connected to boiler, air reservoir or other source of operating pressure, 15 is apipe from the control valve to the operating cylinder 17 of the frictionclutch and 16 is an exhaust pipe by which the exhausted fluid from the friction clutch 17 is conducted away. The corresponding ports in the valve shown in section in Fig. 3 are designated bythe same numerals 14, 15 and 16. respectively,

" as they are merely continuations of the same assage. The valve comprises a body portion 1 into which is tightly forced a bushing V The bushing V is provided with a cylindrical bore having a larger diameter at one end and a smaller diameter at the other end. Within this bore slides a iston V having three piston heads V, V, the two'former fitting'in the smaller portion of'the bore'and the head V fitting in the larger portion of the bore. The end piston heads 4 and V are each provided with one packing ring while the middle piston head is provided with two packing rings. Bushing V is pierced by three ports 14 ",.1 5'., 16" communicating respectively with the openings 14,'15 and 16. Each port consists of a number of separate holes pierced throu h at the same cross section of the bushing, 13 e bridge between the individual holes serving to keep the packing rings from catching in the ports. Port 14 communicates with the annular space V", the high pressure fluid being retained in this space by packing rings V and V Port 15 is in communication with the piston only around its periphery and between the two rings V and V. Port 16" communicates with the annular space V between the middle piston head and the large piston head V", rings V and V preventing fluid in port 15" and communicating passages from leaking into the exhaust- 4 is moved within the bore by, the valve stem V sliding through stufiing box V" and having an enlarged portion V which abuts against a shoulder nut V" which is screwed into the end of the valve piston opposite to the stufling box. A smaller portion of valve stem projects through this nut, is surrounded by spring V which is maintained under initial compression by means of lock nuts 21 vza' The open ends of the valve body V are closed by two endheads V3 and V The stem V is operated as desired, by means of the lever 2 Fig. 2.

It will be observed that the valve piston on the end at V, a certain-predetermined pressure in port 15 will accomplish the endwise sliding of valve Y on its stem; As

the operating pressure from boiler or air reservoir in port 14 is balanced, the area at each end of the space VT-being the same, this pressure will not affect] any endwise movement of the valve which might otherwise be produced. As the pressure in port 16 is atmospheric, the fact that the exposed area at one end of the space V is larger-than at the other end, does not affect any endwise sliding of the valve which would be otherwise produced.

r The use and operation of my invention are as follows:- i

When the'clutch is in the released position consequent upon the completion of the 4 previous cycle, the valve piston V will be in the location indicated in dotted linesin' Fig. 6, with cutofi' edge DD, Fig. 3 of ring V located at line D ID on Fig. 6. .Ports 15 and 16' are then in communication, permiitting' atmospheric pressure to exist in cylinder 17 .and communicating parts. Port 14: and. annular space. V" are filled with fluid at operating pressure. To set the clutch, operator throws lever 2 to move stem V. to the right of the CC,-Fig. '3 of the packing rin V then takes position C (Fig. 6), part y opening port 15" and thereby 'placin this port, and through it the thrust cylin er 17, in .communicationwith the. source of operating fluid under pressure. The operating fluid will therefore force the'piston 12 outwardly ure. Cutoff edge I and consequently. tighten the friction band upon the clutch housing 9. During the first part of its motion piston 12 will encounter little resistance and the pressure in port 15 will .be small, while'the full operating pressure exists in port 14: and space V around the valve piston. When the'thrusting piston 12 has moved forward sufliciently to tighten the friction band, its movement becomes slow or ceases and the pressure in port 15' accumulates back of-the piston 12 and through all of the associated passages on the sages V and in the chambers V and V at the two ends of the valve piston. As already explained, the exposed area of piston V is larger than the corresponding area at V and the piston would therefore be immediately moved along on the valve stem by the excess ressure on end-at V exce t for the initial tension in spring V which holds the piston against shoulder of stem enlargement V. This spring V is so proportioned and adjusted that when pressure in port 15 and cylinder 17 has risen to a predetermined amount, say 25 pounds per square inch, the resistance of the spring will be overcome and the valve will move lengthwise along the stem until load upon the spring V is sufliciently increased to resist the excess pressure of the fluid on the other end of the valve piston.

If the valve has only been slightly opened 1 as shown in Fig. 6, the sliding of valve piston along the stem will be checked as soon as the cutofl edge CC of ring V has moved the short distance from position C C to position C C where the port 15 is cut off, thereby checking the rise of pressure at a pressure but slightly above that at which the initial spring tension was overcome. if the valve was moved to open the port wider, a greater increase of pressure will be required to close it. It is obvious that each position of valve stem V corresponds to a position of operating lever 2, selected at the discretion of the operator; and that when the operator places this lever in any given position the valve will operate to admit fluid under pressure to the thrusting cylinder until the pressure in that cylinder has risen to uncovering ports 15v and permitting slow building up of pressure in thrust cylinder as already described, or these ports may be thrown wide open if the clutch is to be used at maximum pressure and no graduated action is desired. If during the operation of the clutch, while lifting or driving a load the operator desires --to reduce the capacity of the clutch and permit the load to slip or slacken in speed, he has only to move the lever back to the appropriate position when the valve will automatically reduce to, and maintain, the required lower pressure in the thrust cylinder. If the Cutoff edge CC may desired; or the force to be exerted on the excavating dipper during digging may be .held at a point below the maxlmum capacity of theclutch in order to able parts. r

The object of avoiding any end thrust on the valve stem V 'which might tend to move the operating lever against the intention of the operator, is carried out in the above described construction in the following manner The net area of the valve stem as it passes through the stuffing box is sub- ]ected to any pressure which may momentarily exist in the port.15,. communicating with the exposed left hand end of the valve stem through the passage V The difference of area between the left hand end of the valve piston at V and the right hand and at V 9 is so proportioned as to be equalin sense to the pressure on the exposed left hand end of the valve stem. There is therefore no tendency to move the valve stem on account of these pressures.

Therefore by merely placing his operating lever in any given position the operator selects a pressure which he desires to act upon the thrusting piston 12, and the valve will permit the pressure in the thrusting cylinder 17 to rise to that amount, and hold it there automatically as long as the lever is maintained at the selected position. After the steam has been out off, should any of it leak out or condense in the thrusting cylinder, reducing the pressure in that cylinder and the associated ports 15-15, the excess pressure on the end of the valve piston at the chamber V will drop correspondingly and spring V will automatically .slide the valve piston to the right uncovering the edge of port 15" and admitting enough additional fluid under pressure to restore the selected operating pressure in thrusting cylinder 17.

When the operator desires to release the friction clutch the lever is thrown to a position which slides the valve stem and valve piston to the leftof theFigs. 3 or 6 until the cutoff edge DD of ring V has uncovered the port 15 thereby placing ports 15 and 16' in communication through space V between the central and right hand heads of the valve piston. This permits the pressure to exhaust from the thrust cylinder-17, permitting the spring 13 to-return the piston 12 to its zero position, releasing protect breakthe friction 'band. It is obvious that many on which the cut-ofi' member slides,

7 ing a ported casing,

figure may be. made of the essential elements of this invention, and I do not restrict myself to the exact form illustrated herein.

1. A pressure controlling valve comprising a ported casing, a cutofl member which controls the opening and closing of the ports an operating member on which the cut-o member slides, and a yielding connection between it and the cutofl member.

2. A pressure controlling valve comprising a ported casing, --a' cutofl member coacting with the ports,

and a yielding connection between the operating member and the cutofl member whereby the cutofl' member is permitted to move relatively to theports, while the operating memher is stationary.

v 3. A pressure controlling valve comprisan operating member which slides on the operating member, and

'a cutoff member co-acting with the,ports and with the operating member, a yielding connection between the operating and the cutoff members, the movement of the cutofl member being jointly controlled by the operating member and by the pressure existing within the valve casing.

4. A pressure controlling valve comprising a valve stem, a. valve sliding upon said stem, a valve chamber with ports controlled by said valve and a spring controlling theposition of the valve upon the .stem.

5.' A pressure controlling valve comprising a valve stem, a piston valve sliding upon said stem, a valve chamber with ports controlled by said piston valve and a spring controlling the position of the piston valve upon the stem.

6. A pressure controlling valve comprising a valve stem, a valve slidable upon said controlled tending to move the valve in one direction upon the valve stem, the valve having an unbalanced area whereby the fluid pressure existing within the casing tends to move the valve in the opposite direction.

7 A pressure controlling valve comprising a valve stem, a piston valve slidable upon said stem, a valve chamber with ports controlled by said valve, a source of fluid pressure communicating with said ports, a

- spring tending to move the piston valve in ing a slidable operating stem, a cylindrical piston valve slidably mounted upon said one direction upon the. valve stem, the valve having an unbalanced area whereby the fluid pressure existing within the casing tends to move the valve in the opposite direction.

8.v A pressure controlling valve comprisand being formed with piston heads an operating member of varying diameters, a valve casin closely fitting around said piston valve an having corresponding diameters, a spring tending .to move the piston in one direction casing through a closely fitting aperture and having the inner end of said stem ex posed to fluid pressure within the casing, the piston valve having an unbalanced area exposed to the same fluid pressure and so arranged that the pressure acts in opposite and a yielding connection between the valve and the stem.

10. A pressure controlling apparatus comprising a source of fluid pressure, a valve casing having ports, a piston valve sliding within the casing and controlling said ports, an operating stem entering one end of the casing through a closely fitting aperture and having the inner end of said stem exposed to fluid pressure within the casing, the piston valve having an unbalanced area exposed to the same fluid pressure and so arranged an operating stem entering one end of the 1 directions upon thevalve and upon the stem, 7

that the pressure acts in opposite directions upon the valve and upon the stem, and a yielding connection between the valveand the stem, whereby the said unbalanced pressure may move the valve upon the stem by deflecting said yielding connection.

11. A pressure controlling apparatus comprising a source of fluid pressure, a valve casing having ports, a piston valve sliding within the casing and controlling said ports, an operating stem entering one end of the casing through a closely fitting aperture and having the inner end of said stem exposed to fluid pressure within the casing, the piston valve having an unbalanced area substantially equal to the cross sectional area of the valve stem in the aperture where it enters the casing and exposed to the same fluid pressure, acting in opposite directions upon the valve and upon the stem.

12. A pressure controlling apparatus comprising a source of fluid pressure, a valve casing having ports, a piston valve sliding within the casing and controlling said ports,

an operating stem entering one end of the casing through .a closely fitting aperture and having the inner end of said stem exposed to fluid pressure within the casing, the pistonvalve having an unbalanced area substantially equal to the cross sectional area of the valve stem in the aperture Where it enters the casing and exposed to the same fluid pressure acting in opposite directions upon the valve and upon the stem, a yielding connection between the valve and the stem whereby the said fluid pressures may move the valve upon the stem by deflecting said yielding connection, the fluid pressures upon the exposed end of the stem and upon the unbalanced area of the valve being in opposite directions and canceling eachother so that no resultant force is transmitted to the operating connections.

13. In a pressure controlled system a positively operated fluid control valve and means responsive to variations in the pres sure of the fluid controlled by the valve for controlling the operation of the valve said means including a part forming a slidable connection between the valve and the me chanical control and yielding means for moving the valve against such yielding means the valve being positively held against movement with respect to the me- .chanically controlled means in one direction while free to move against the yielding means in the opposite direction.

16. A valve for fluid control'comprising a control rod and means for positively moving it, a piston valve slidable on the rod, yielding means interposed between the valve and the rod for resisting movement of the valve with respect to the rod in one direction and positive means for resisting movement in the other, a valve housing in which the valve reciprocates and means on the valve and in the housing for moving the valve against such yielding means in response to variations in the pressure.

17. A valve for fluid control comprising a control rod and means forpositively moving it, a piston valve slidable on the rod, yielding means interposed between the valve and the rod for resisting movement of the valve with respect to the rod in one direction and positive means for resisting movemeans for balancing the valve and piston rod to prevent movement of the piston rod in response to variations in the pressure.

18. A pressure controlling valve comprising a slidable operating stem, a cylindrical piston valve slidably' mounted upon said stem and being formed with piston heads of varying diameters, a valve casing closely fitting around said piston valve and having corresponding diameters, a spring tending to move the piston in one direction upon the valve stem and a fluid pressure tending to move the piston in the other direction in opposition to the spring said spring being within the valve casing.

19. A pressure controllingvalve comprising a valve stem, a valve sliding upon said stem, a projection on one end of said stem. a spring mounted on the stem between the projection and the valve and controlling the position of the valve on the stem, a valve chamber with ports controlled by said valve.

20. A pressure controlling valve comprising a valve stem, a valve sliding upon said stem, a projection on one end of said stem, a spring mounted on the stem between the projection and the valve and controlling the position of the valve on the stem. a valve chamber with ports controlled by said valve and an extension therefrom inclosing one end of the valve stem and spring.

21. In a pressure controlling valve a cutoff member which controls the opening and closing of the ports an operating stem and a sliding connection between the operating stem and the cut-off member.

22. In a pressure controlling valve a cut oil member which controls the opening and closing of the ports an operating member and a sliding connection between the operating member and the cut-off member and a spring connection between the operating member and the cut-off member.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses this fifth day of July 1917.

WALTER FER-HIS.

Witnesses:

KATHRYN OCONNELL, WALTER HELM. 

